WORKING GROUP I

Co-Chair Holdgate reminded delegates that a quarter of IPF-4 had passed, and no
agreements had been reached. Thus the moment of truth had arrived.

NATIONAL FOREST AND LAND-USE PLANS: Discussion began with
proposals for action on national forest and land-use programmes. A US proposal to
replace NFPs with national forest programmes was adopted, as was the deletion of all
references to other appropriate or relevant policy frameworks. The US advocated
employing sustainable forest management (SFM) instead of the management,
conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. PERU, VENEZUELA
and CANADA noted that the meaning of SFM is not yet clear. The Co-Chair proposed a
contact group including both Working Groups.

For the subparagraph on national forest programmes, the G-77/CHINA proposed adding a
reference to specific national conditions and legislation. JAPAN recommended adding a
reference to evaluation. Both amendments were adopted. The US, supported by the G-
77/CHINA and CANADA, suggested inserting references to the wide range of
approaches for SFM in NFPs. An informal contact group chaired by CANADA amended
this subparagraph by inserting, inter alia: consistency with sub-national policies;
partnership mechanisms; secure land tenure arrangements for indigenous and local
communities; valuation; and ecosystem approaches which include biodiversity.

The subparagraph on cooperation in SFM was amended by the G-77/CHINA by adding
as appropriate to encouraging all countries to use NFPs while the subparagraph on
criteria and indicators (C&I) was amended when JAPAN added evaluation and the
REPUBLIC OF KOREA added on a step-by-step basis.

The subparagraph on planning systems was amended by a reference to the evaluation of
NFPs. The ALLIANCE OF INDIGENOUS-TRIBAL PEOPLES OF THE TROPICAL
FORESTS, with the support of the EU and COLOMBIA, suggested replacing
indigenous people, communities, or populations with indigenous peoples and
representation with participation. BRAZIL and the G-77/CHINA amended
indigenous peoples to indigenous people. The EU added references to forest owners
and private management systems.

A subparagraph on encouraging capacities in all sectors was deleted. Text encouraging
governments to establish national coordination mechanisms and strategies to promote
NFP implementation was agreed. After suggestions by the G-77/CHINA, the EU, the US
and the REPUBLIC OF KOREA, a subparagraph on developing partnerships, which
could include partnership agreements, was accepted.

COLOMBIA, DENMARK and several other delegations proposed paragraphs formulated
by the ALLIANCE OF INDIGENOUS-TRIBAL PEOPLES OF THE TROPICAL
FORESTS encouraging prior informed consent and benefits-sharing in territories of
indigenous and other forest peoples. UGANDA, the US and VENEZUELA objected. The
paragraphs were referred to a contact group. JAPAN, supported by the US, the G-
77/CHINA and CANADA, added a paragraph urging participatory mechanisms to
integrate research into planning cycles.

Regarding conclusions, the G-77/CHINA added national constitutional and legal
frameworks into text recognizing special groups traditional rights. The US deleted a
reference to forest workers in the same section, which was then agreed.

A contact group was formed to negotiate amendments on the first paragraph under
conclusions that defines national forest programmes. Delegates deferred discussion of
action proposals and conclusions on financial resources and capacity-building pending
consultations with Working Group II.

UNDERLYING CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION: After the US, the EU and
others suggested deleting a paragraph on studies of underlying causes of deforestation,
delegates agreed to an AUSTRALIAN amendment proposing that, as appropriate,
countries prepare in-depth studies, analyze historical causes, and provide information on
transboundary pollution. The US added a reference to long-term trends regarding
sustainability of wood supply and demand. NEW ZEALAND added language on the role
of plantation forests. The paragraph was agreed.

The subparagraph on analyzing policies with a positive effect was adopted. The US
amended the subparagraph on national strategies by adding as appropriate to the
reference to goals for national forest cover. The subparagraph on mechanisms to improve
policy was retained with the US amendment of such as rather than including
environmental impact assessment. The subparagraph on securing land tenure was
amended with equitable and appropriate sharing of benefits.

Text recommending timely provision of information on underlying causes was accepted
with minor amendments. The US deleted references to research and technology transfer
in the proposal on financial assistance to developing counties. The G-77/CHINA urged
retention of case studies and capacity building, and the paragraph was agreed.

With amendments from the US, NEW ZEALAND and the EU, delegates agreed to a
paragraph urging developed countries, the UNDP and other organizations to assist
countries in identifying underlying causes, applying and refining a diagnostic
framework. Language supporting the Biodiversity Conventions work programme on
underlying causes of biodiversity loss was added by SWEDEN, CANADA and
NORWAY following a suggestion by GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL.

Conclusions on the need to understand underlying causes and effects of production and
consumption were agreed. A reference to poverty was added to the conclusion on
sustainable development and removed from one on socioeconomic factors, and
demographic pressure, mining and petroleum exploration were added.